title: Early low-frequency stimulation of the pudendal nerve can inhibit detrusor overactivity and delay progress of bladder fibrosis in dogs with spinal cord injuries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the inhibitory effects of pudendal nerve stimulation (5 Hz) on bladder overactivity at the early stage of spinal cord injury (SCI) in dogs, and to explore the possible effects on delayed progression of bladder fibrosis after SCI.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was performed using six dogs with spinal cord transection at the T9–T10 level. Group 1 (three dogs) under went low-frequency electrical stimulation of the pudendal nerve 1 day after spinal cord transection. Group 2 (three dogs) underwent only spinal cord transection. All dogs underwent urodynamic examination at 1 and 3 months after SCI. The bladders were removed for histological examination of fibrosis at 3 months after SCI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bladder capacity and compliance were significantly increased (P<0.05) by pudendal nerve stimulation in group 1 when compared with group 2 at 1 and 3 months after SCI. Non-voiding contractions (NVCs) were inhibited in group 1 compared with group 2. Collagen fibers were significantly increased and elastic fibers were significantly decreased (P<0.05) in group 2 when compared with group 1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early low-frequency pudendal nerve stimulation can inhibit detrusor overactivity (DO), increase bladder capacity and delay the progression of bladder fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, China Rehabilitation Research Center, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tian
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D003187:Compliance; D018450:Disease Progression; D004285:Dogs; D004549:Elastin / Q000378:metabolism; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D005355:Fibrosis; D008297:Male; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000473:pathology; D060525:Pudendal Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D001745:Urinary Bladder Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D053201:Urinary Bladder, Overactive / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014563:Urodynamics / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen; D004549:Elastin